Page 83 of Poison Aches

To top all that off, I’ve never seen her this happy and at ease all my life.

I hate to admit it, but her happiness makes me uncomfortable at times. Hell, anyone’s happiness, really—because I fake mine.

“And here I thought you missed me,” I fake a frown. “At least my baby boy will miss me when I’m gone.”

I pick up Knight Aiden King as delicately as I can, then proceed to lather his round, rosy cheeks with kisses, to which I’m granted an almost-there smile.

“Dude, you’re just like your father!” I coo, laughing at the half smile Knight gives me.

“Right!” Kim exclaims as she plops down on the couch next to me with a heavy sigh. “Like that dude can go a whole day looking like the whole world is imposing on his personal space.”

Astraea throws her head back and laughs. “You’re so right! I caught them the other day having a silent staring match.”

That laugh is rich, at ease, and so extremely happy, I can’t help but smile.

She laughs naturally now. Healing looks good on her, and on Kimberly as well.

Kimberly chuckles. “Are you sure it wasn’t a contest to the death? I wonder how it’ll be when Knight is a teenager. They’re already fighting over you now, so imagine later.”

“Let’s put money on it!” I quickly jump in. “I say King will throw Knight out the house when he hits sixteen!”’

“Nope! Knight will emancipate himself by fifteen.”

“I like those odds. Bet!”

“Bet, bitch!”

Kim and I nod at each other, then we turn in unison to look at Astraea who has her mouth hanging open.

“Since when did the two of you get into betting?”

“We’re gambling women, Mama,” Kimberly says. “Besides, Ivy and Noah play poker every now and then.”

“What? Without me?”

“Don’t give us that! We’ve invited you several times, but you always blow us off. I bet it’s because King will have you stretched out in a hundred different positions when you put Knight down.”

Astraea’s face flashes like a fire engine truck.

“Dude, you just had a baby and you’re blushing more now than you ever did!” Kim points and laughs. “Hey, Siri, play “Rich Sex” by Nicki Minaj on Spotify!”

Astraea’s face flushes even more, she looks like she might pass out. Gotta save the poor girl.

“You’re one to talk.” I nudge Kim. “Did you take that test yet?”

She whips her head around and stares at me with her eyes almost bulging out.

“What? How did you…Ivy!”

“Don’t Ivy me! Did you take it or not? I’ve pretty much left a ton of them around your mansion two days ago!”

“Oh, Jesus, that was your doing!” Kim exclaims in shock. “I found one in the laundry hamper, another in the coffee cabinet, and another in my office! That was you?”

“Hmm, about that, you really should stop drinking coffee now. If you experience withdrawals, see a specialist.” I wink.

“IVY!”

“Wait, what test?” Raea questions.

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